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My sister-in-law is an amazing artist, one of those people who can do everything. She paints. She draws. She throws clay. She crafts. She crochets. She takes inspiring photographs. Even her name screams creative genius – Piper LaRue. Nice, right? So today I’m sharing a few of Piper’s masterpieces with you, specifically her hand-drawn gift bags. Yep, these all started as plain brown paper bags. I couldn’t bring myself to throw them away after last Christmas so I trimmed, laminated, and framed them. Voila – handmade holiday decorations.

If you don’t have access to an amazing young artist, you can find fabric and scrapbooking paper these days that’s frame-worthy. I’ve even seen some wrapping papers here that I would gladly hang on my wall. Do you have any “repurposed” holiday decorations? Send me a link, I’d love to see it.

A couple weeks ago I shared a recipe for a DIY pumpkin spice sugar scrub. Since then I’ve come up with another scrub that is UH. MAZE. ING. It’s perfect for holiday gift giving and you probably have everything you need in the cupboard right now.

2. Add the coffee and cocoa to the sugar mixture and stir together, being sure to break up any lumps. I used a french vanilla coffee because it’s what I had. I’m sure any kind will do.

3. Add the oil and mix well. What kind of oil you choose is really up to you. Sunflower, safflower, or plain vegetable oil will all work. My only suggestion is to NOT use olive oil because it has such a strong scent. I used this from my local grocery store.

4. Lastly, stir in the vanilla. (The smell might seem overpowering at first but it will mellow.)

That’s it, you’re done. All that’s left is to scoop it into some pretty containers and deliver it to your friends. I usually go with mason jars – simple & classic.

Of course I had to make a pretty label for it too. It’s not professional or anything but I’ll put a link at the bottom of this post. You’re more than welcome to use it for your own sugar scrub adventures.

You could give it with a Panera or Starbuck’s gift card.

Or with a coffee mug that’s perfect for you-know-who.

A few other ideas bouncing around my noggin:

tuck it inside stockings

give as gifts at a ladies holiday brunch

package with a bag of specialty beans from Harry & David

surprise your favorite barista

put a basket full in the teacher’s lounge at school

give as a hostess gift at Christmas dinner

As promised, here are the labels I made. Let me know if you decide to mix up a batch of this yummy stuff. I can’t wait to hear how you like it.

You are not going to believe how easy it is to make your own yummy-smelling, skin-softening sugar scrub. And cheap. I mean really, really cheap, using things you probably already have in your cupboards. This recipe is perfect to give as a Christmas gift or next week as a hostess gift at Thanksgiving. Here we go.

3. Add the oil and mix well. What kind of oil you choose is really up to you. Sunflower, safflower, or plain vegetable oil will all work. My only suggestion is to NOT use olive oil because it has such a strong scent. I used this.

Did I mention that you’re done? Yep, that’s it.

All that’s left is to put it in a pretty jar and ask me, “hey, where’s the cute packaging and free printable?” I’m working on it, I swear. I’m looking for a non-breakable container so it can be used in the shower. When I find it, I promise to share. Until then, scoop a batch into a mason jar, tie a ribbon around it, and deliver it to your Thanksgiving host. They will love you for it.

It’s Movember. Time to put a spotlight on men’s health issues and, of course, have a little fun doing it. In addition to letting my mustache grow for the whole month I made these new Mustache and Lip Pillow Shams.

You can find them for sale over in my Etsy shop. While they were inspired by the Movember movement they would be the perfect gift any month of the year.

It’s officially the holiday season and while I’m not one of those people who skip Thanksgiving, I do like to get a head start on anything that requires shipping. With that in mind I’m sharing these funny holiday gift tags and wine tags today. They’re my own creations and I sell them in my Etsy shop. Their clean, simple design is perfect for traditional or modern tastes and they’re perfect for gifts that ship – no more squished bows. So take a look and have a laugh. See something you have to have? Visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaughingAbiStudio and you can get it.

I love creative gift wrapping ideas and this is one of my favorites. My daughter received it on a birthday package years ago and I managed to snap a photo before she started spending.

This is the perfect solution for that cousin or nephew that you don’t know very well but still need to buy for. Maybe wrap a box of homemade cookies in plain white paper and top it with one of these “green” bows. It’s more thoughtful than a gift card or check but won’t be re-gifted next season.